Devotion #3: Is God A Monster?

“What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means!” Romans 9:14 

Is God a monster? That is an odd question to start a devotion. Romans chapter 9 deals with some very difficult subjects. Our finite minds can truly struggle to grasp the infinite ways of God. In the middle of this difficult teaching, Paul asks a question, “Is God unfair?” Kent Hughes makes a valuable observation, “At first, it appears that Paul does not really answer the question but simply says it is impossible for God to do anything unjust, but the answer is sufficient.” It is like Paul sees our struggle to understand these truths, and he stops and says, “The way you will find peace in all of this is to go back to the foundation of who God is.” In that, you will find peace even in the difficult truths. A.W. Tozer, in his book “Knowledge of the Holy” (a great book to read on the attributes of God), wrote, “What comes to mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” 

Today, I would like you to focus on the characters and attributes of God. To do this, flip your Bible open to Psalm 103. Read the chapter and circle every truth about God. After doing this, go back and reread all that you have circled. 

Jeremiah 9:23-25 says, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.’” 

Deuteronomy 32:4 adds, “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.” 

Kent Hughes also wrote, “God is perfect. Perfect in knowledge, wisdom, power, faithfulness, goodness, justice, mercy, grace, love, and holiness. Therefore he is perfect in his choices.”  

So, is God a monster? No! His ways are good, right, and just. He knows what is good, right, and just better than we do. In the difficult truths of the Bible, we can sit in peace knowing how good the character of God is.